“We won,” he said huskily, “and it’s all due to your hard work on circulation.”
Helen’s eyes were just as misty as she smiled back.
“No,” she replied, “it was your hunch in putting the records in the bank. We’d have been ruined if you hadn’t. I’m wondering why Mr. Atwell didn’t appear.”
“I have a hunch he was afraid we had connected him with the fire,” said Tom. “Now let’s phone mother and then send a wire to Dad.”
That afternoon Tom completed the arrangements to publish the official proceedings of the county supervisors and increased the amount of job printing he was to get from the courthouse. He also hired a middle-aged printer who agreed to come to Rolfe and work for $18 a week.
“But isn’t that a little extravagant?” asked Helen.
“We must have help now,” explained Tom, “and with the county printing safely tucked away we can afford it. Also, I bought a second-hand folder from the Times here. It only cost me $50 and you’ll never have to fold papers again.”
“Oh, I’m so happy,” exclaimed Helen, “for I did hate to fold them. There were so many along toward the end.”
On the way home that afternoon they made further plans and checked up on their funds in the bank.
“We’ve got a little over $900 right now,” said Tom, “and that’s deducting all of my extravagances of an auditor and buying the second-hand folder. Our bills are all paid and we’re having a record December in advertising. I’d say we were sitting pretty.”